Pokemon: Ace's Adventures!

The sun rose over Vermillion City, casting a golden hue over the rooftops as life began to stir. Inside Cerise's cozy home, the dining table was lively with chatter and the aroma of breakfast dishes wafting through the air. Ace, May, Dawn, Serena, Chloe, Talia, and Cerise sat together, enjoying the meal. Plates were piled with toast, eggs, and fresh berries, while mugs of steaming tea and juice glasses clinked occasionally.

Ace leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Thanks for the meal, Talia. That was fantastic."

Talia smiled warmly. "You're welcome, Ace. You've all got a big journey ahead. You need your strength."

After a pause, Cerise set his cup down and asked, "So, where are you all heading next?" His curious gaze shifted between the group.

Ace exchanged a glance with the girls before replying, "We're heading to Saffron City."

May's face lit up immediately, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "Saffron City? I read about their amazing restaurants! There's this one place that serves the best Kantō-style curry! We have to go there!"

Serena tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Saffron City also has Gym Leader Sabrina. She's a renowned psychic trainer. I'd love to learn some tips from her since Fennekin's final evolution, Delphox, is a Psychic and Fire-type."

Dawn's turn came next, and she chimed in with a smile. "My mom told me that one of her friends owns a clothing store there. She really wants me to visit. And, of course, I'd love to pick up some new outfits!"

At the mention of shopping, May and Serena immediately turned to Dawn, their excitement sparking a new conversation.

"Oh, we should totally make a list of what to look for," May suggested eagerly.

"Absolutely," Serena agreed. "I've been wanting to find some travel-friendly but stylish clothes too."

The trio launched into an animated discussion, their voices overlapping as they threw out ideas and plans.

Ace scratched the back of his head, sweatdropping at their enthusiasm. 'This is escalating fast,' he thought. Clearing his throat to regain control of the situation, he interjected, "How about this? First, we'll go to the gym for my battle with Sabrina. Serena, you can learn from her by watching my match and maybe get some pointers afterward. Then we can visit Dawn's mom's friend's store and wrap up the day with a meal at one of those restaurants May mentioned. After that, we'll crash at the Pokémon Center. How does that sound?"

The girls paused, mulled it over for a moment, and nodded in agreement.

"That sounds fair," Serena said, smiling.

"Alright, but the restaurant better not be too crowded," May added, already imagining the food.

"I'll let my mom's friend know we'll stop by," Dawn added cheerfully.

As the group finalized their plan, Talia and Cerise chuckled at the lively atmosphere. "You've got your hands full, Ace," Cerise remarked with a grin.

Ace chuckled nervously. "Yeah, tell me about it."

Chloe, sitting quietly at the table, wore a small smile, her eyes closed as she listened to the conversation. However, if one looked closer, there was an unsettling detail: the knife Chloe had used to chop fruit earlier was still in her hand, and she was twirling it absentmindedly.

'He's mine.' Chloe thought to herself, the mantra looping obsessively in her mind. Her expression didn't falter, but her grip on the knife tightened for a moment before loosening again.

Yamper, who was sitting beside her, shuddered and scooted a little farther away, wondering why his trainer was acting so strangely.

The group gathered their belongings, their bikes ready for the journey ahead as Ace, May, Dawn, Serena, and their Pokémon bid farewell to Professor Cerise, Talia, and Chloe.

Talia pulled Ace into a tight hug, ruffling his hair affectionately. "Stay safe, Ace. Remember to eat properly and take breaks during training. And don't forget to change you know what."

Ace grinned while being a little embarassed. "Got it, Talia. Thanks for everything!"

Cerise gave him a firm handshake. "Keep up the hard work, Ace. You've got potential to go far. And girls, keep him in line, alright?"

The girls chuckled, with May teasing, "Don't worry, Professor. He's not getting into any danger under our watch!"

As Chloe stood silently, her eyes followed Ace. She gave him a small wave, her expression filled with love, though her Yamper still kept a wary distance from her. "Good luck, Ace," Chloe said softly.

Ace waved back with a smile. "Thanks, Chloe. I'll see you again soon!"

With that, the group mounted their bikes and pedaled away, heading toward Saffron City.

The road stretched ahead of them, and as the chatter from the girls filled the air, Ace's thoughts began to wander. His mind fixated on his next challenge: Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City.

'Sabrina...' Ace thought, his brow furrowing. 'She's one of the most dangerous Gym Leaders in Kanto. Not just because of her Pokémon, but because of her. Her psychic powers are insane. From what I remember from the anime, she could literally turn people into dolls.'

A chill ran down his spine as he recalled the episodes. Sabrina's abilities weren't just intimidating—they were terrifying.

'She cheated during her battles by using her psychic powers when her Pokémon weren't enough. And let's not forget that creepy doll of hers—the embodiment of her emotions. It was like a mix of Annabelle and Chucky. That thing alone could give anyone nightmares.'

He clenched the handlebars of his bike tighter. 'In the anime, Ash only managed to cure her because Haunter made her laugh. Without that, she'd have been unstoppable. What if she tries something dangerous with me or the girls? She could kill us—or worse, turn us into dolls forever.'

Ace's heart raced at the thought, but he shook his head to clear his fear. 'No. I can't let that happen. I have to be prepared. She might be powerful, but so am I.'

As he mulled over strategies, an idea sparked in his mind. His thoughts turned to his Mankey. 'Mankey's been training hard. It's close to evolving. If I push it a little more and teach it Rage Fist when it evolves into Primeape, it could transform into Annihilape. That might be my best shot against her psychic types.'

Ace glanced at the others riding beside him, their laughter and conversations a stark contrast to his focused mindset. He smiled faintly. 'We've got a week to reach Saffron City. I'll use that time to focus on Mankey's evolution and moves. Dratini and Scyther will also need to step up since I'll use them in the battle too. The others can continue their physical training under gravity and polish the new moves they're learning.'

Resolved, Ace spoke up to the group. "Hey, guys, let's make a quick stop later to train for a bit. I need to be at my 100% for the Saffron Gym."

May groaned dramatically. "Ugh, Ace, we just left Vermillion! You're already thinking about training?"

Dawn laughed. "It's Ace we're talking about. Of course he is."

Serena smiled. "It's not a bad idea. Sabrina's no joke from what I had gathered from Pokénet. The stronger Ace get's, the better chances he has against her."

May sighed but nodded in agreement. "Alright, fine. But if I'm sweating buckets, you owe me a snack later."

Ace chuckled. "Deal."

(Pls give me some power stones!)

(Find out next time on Pokemon:Ace's Adventures!)